By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chambers, and Delegates Kiss,
Fleischauer, Kuhn, J. Martin and Williams:
H. C. R. 48--"Directing the Department of Tax and Revenue to
do a study of tax credits for coal allowance purchases relating
to the limitations imposed by Title IV of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990."
Whereas, The Legislature finds that the encouragement of
economic activity by the State's businesses relating to the
mining, transport and utilization of West Virginia coal; the
resultant enhancement of revenues accruing to the State; the
promotion and preservation of jobs in the coal industry and in
industries supplying and otherwise related to the coal industry,
and the general economic activity resulting therefrom; and the
amelioration of the effects of the production, transportation and
utilization of West Virginia coal on the environment are all in
the public interest and promote the general welfare of the people
of this State consistent with prudent development of the State's
natural resources; and,
Whereas, The Legislature further finds that much coal
produced in West Virginia for electric utility steam generation
are unable to meet the sulfur dioxide emission requirements that
will result due to implementation of Title IV of the Clear Air
Act Amendments of 1990, without the use of emission control
technologies or the acquisition of sulfur dioxide emission
allowances to enable such coals to be utilized consistent withthe national program of sulfur dioxide emission reductions
created by that Title; and,
Whereas, That the national emission allowance market has not
developed sufficiently to permit the economic efficiencies it
promises to be adequately realized, resulting in actual and
potential detriment to coals produced in West Virginia as well as
to the ultimate electric consumers of West Virginia coals used in
the electric utility industry; and,
Whereas, That promotion of a more active and vital market for
emission allowances is consistent with the broad interests of the
State of West Virginia; and that encouragement of emission
allowance purchases and sales related to the use of West Virginia
coals will benefit the economy of the State and the well-being of
its citizens and industries, therefore, be itResolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:That in order to encourage economic activity relating to the
production, transportation and utilization of coal within the
State, to enhance the economic vitality of the national emission
allowance market, and to increase employment and general economic
development, the Legislature hereby directs the Department of Tax
and Revenue to study tax credits for coal allowance purchases
relating to the limitations imposed by Title IV of the Clean Air
Act Amendments of 1990; and, be itFurther Resolved, That the Department of Tax and Revenue in
cooperation with the Joint Committee on Government and Finance
examine the preservation of jobs associated with the emission
allowance transactions implicated by tax credits, the effect ofthe overall economic output within the State resulting therefrom
and the overall effect on the State's tax revenue and savings
resulting from the decreased costs of unemployment compensation,
welfare and other social service costs, and the impact of an
emission allowance credit on the coal industry in West Virginia;
and, be itFurther Resolved, That the Department of Tax and Revenue
report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the
President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Delegates on
or before July 31, 1995.